Recently, I viewed a special on PBS which featured an old acquaintance. I feel more like a friend since he was such an influence during the sixties. However, I was more in tune with him then he was with me. In actuality it was honestly a very casual acquaintance. I guess in my mind it was more, since it was such brush with greatness.
His name was Phil Ochs, a true progressive patriot with a beautiful singing voice and a wizard on his Gibson. His “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” took the folk world by storm. In fact, it becomes relevant again and again as our beloved red, white and blue continues to invade and occupy.
As a frequent visitor to the old Gaslight coffeehouse in the heart of MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, it was there that I started my life of activism. This is where Phil frequently played along with the likes of Dave Van Ronk, Patrick Sky and yes, even Dylan. After the show Phil would often sip a few at the old “Kettle of Fish” a gin mill which sat right next door. We would sit at the bar and have a few words and a few beers from time to time. He didn’t look like a typical Village dude as he was often sporting a dress jacket Sometimes though in a black leather jacket. In my memory he was quietly angry off stage but hell fire unleashed on stage. His severe bipolar disorder got the best of him, he tragically committed suicide at the age of 35.
The PBS special was a grim reminder of the horror of Vietnam era. The country was angry and vocally divided. However, in retrospect although very ugly at that time, there was a more honest tone related to what was really happening. The news actually covered the war live. You could sit in your living room and watch the horror. Flag draped coffins were pictured in the press. Could you imagine in your wildest dreams, our corporate controlled media airing this much truth today?
The Chicago Democratic convention showed the brutality of Mayor Daley’s Neanderthal-like police. The Kent State shooting made the front page. The Tet Offensive was covered thoroughly by the news media. Things were happening and we were all aware.
The absurdity of how our current day administrations and press get away with the dumbing down of our country is an absolute outrage. However, blaming the government and press is like blaming the rooster for hanging around the hen house. I therefore place the blame squarely on the American people. Many would rather ingest “America’s Got Talent” rather than to focus on the utter destruction of our democracy.
I remember back in the sixties, as I was part of a peace march, down 5th Avenue in Manhattan, the shock in a French woman’s voice as she commented on a young girl’s placard that said. “I am ashamed of my country.” It was a shocking statement even for those days. Well, now that I feel the same way, I don’t feel so shocked. I am in fact ashamed of my country.
I am ashamed of the shear self-inflicted ignorance of the American people. I’m ashamed of the lack of caring of the murder we have committed by our invasion of the Middle East. Never has there been so much apathy, never has there been much available information. It is astonishing that so few Americans don’t know what Blackwater is. Nor do most people know that a whopping 56 cents of every one of their tax dollars goes toward our obscene $503 billion military budget. Nor are they aware that this budget is discretionary and that only 10% goes to our soldiers in combat.
Most Americans will not look further than their nose as they consume the pablum of ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN and similar facsimiles. There is no excuse for this ignorance.
To my progressive friends. Please wake up and realize that there is little difference between the Democrats and their cousins, the Republicans. Be loyal to neither.
To my self-inflicted ignorant fellow Americans, shame on you! You are why I am embarrassed and ashamed of my country.
Ed Dunphy is a peace and political activist living in the New York-New Jersey Metro area.
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The shame of our country
Posted on April 11, 2016 by Ed Dunphy
Recently, I viewed a special on PBS which featured an old acquaintance. I feel more like a friend since he was such an influence during the sixties. However, I was more in tune with him then he was with me. In actuality it was honestly a very casual acquaintance. I guess in my mind it was more, since it was such brush with greatness.
His name was Phil Ochs, a true progressive patriot with a beautiful singing voice and a wizard on his Gibson. His “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” took the folk world by storm. In fact, it becomes relevant again and again as our beloved red, white and blue continues to invade and occupy.
As a frequent visitor to the old Gaslight coffeehouse in the heart of MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, it was there that I started my life of activism. This is where Phil frequently played along with the likes of Dave Van Ronk, Patrick Sky and yes, even Dylan. After the show Phil would often sip a few at the old “Kettle of Fish” a gin mill which sat right next door. We would sit at the bar and have a few words and a few beers from time to time. He didn’t look like a typical Village dude as he was often sporting a dress jacket Sometimes though in a black leather jacket. In my memory he was quietly angry off stage but hell fire unleashed on stage. His severe bipolar disorder got the best of him, he tragically committed suicide at the age of 35.
The PBS special was a grim reminder of the horror of Vietnam era. The country was angry and vocally divided. However, in retrospect although very ugly at that time, there was a more honest tone related to what was really happening. The news actually covered the war live. You could sit in your living room and watch the horror. Flag draped coffins were pictured in the press. Could you imagine in your wildest dreams, our corporate controlled media airing this much truth today?
The Chicago Democratic convention showed the brutality of Mayor Daley’s Neanderthal-like police. The Kent State shooting made the front page. The Tet Offensive was covered thoroughly by the news media. Things were happening and we were all aware.
The absurdity of how our current day administrations and press get away with the dumbing down of our country is an absolute outrage. However, blaming the government and press is like blaming the rooster for hanging around the hen house. I therefore place the blame squarely on the American people. Many would rather ingest “America’s Got Talent” rather than to focus on the utter destruction of our democracy.
I remember back in the sixties, as I was part of a peace march, down 5th Avenue in Manhattan, the shock in a French woman’s voice as she commented on a young girl’s placard that said. “I am ashamed of my country.” It was a shocking statement even for those days. Well, now that I feel the same way, I don’t feel so shocked. I am in fact ashamed of my country.
I am ashamed of the shear self-inflicted ignorance of the American people. I’m ashamed of the lack of caring of the murder we have committed by our invasion of the Middle East. Never has there been so much apathy, never has there been much available information. It is astonishing that so few Americans don’t know what Blackwater is. Nor do most people know that a whopping 56 cents of every one of their tax dollars goes toward our obscene $503 billion military budget. Nor are they aware that this budget is discretionary and that only 10% goes to our soldiers in combat.
Most Americans will not look further than their nose as they consume the pablum of ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN and similar facsimiles. There is no excuse for this ignorance.
To my progressive friends. Please wake up and realize that there is little difference between the Democrats and their cousins, the Republicans. Be loyal to neither.
To my self-inflicted ignorant fellow Americans, shame on you! You are why I am embarrassed and ashamed of my country.
Ed Dunphy is a peace and political activist living in the New York-New Jersey Metro area.